Programs that support Boulder residents, businesses and nonprofits in financing solar power installations at their homes, businesses and facilities

New and Emerging Strategies

Creating Tools to Phase Out In-Home Natural Gas Use

Through funding provided by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the City of Boulder has partnered with National Renewable Energy Labs (NREL) to conduct one of the first neighborhood-scale renewable energy system transition assessments in the U.S. This groundbreaking analysis will identify optimal pathways for supporting households in adopting solar, electric vehicles, deep efficiency upgrades and conversion of natural gas to renewable heating and cooling systems in ways that minimize impacts on the grid and maximize savings and energy resilience for residents.

Boulder is one of the first cities in the country to start developing and implementing a strategy to support residential households in replacing natural gas dependent appliances with high-efficiency electric heat pump alternatives. This initiative has now attracted participation by New York City, Washington D.C., Boston, Burlington and a group of 12 other observer cities who are replicating Boulder’s innovations in similar initiatives in their cities.

Comfort365 is a partnership between the City of Boulder and Boulder County’s EnergySmart Program to provide residents with a cleaner, more efficient and more comfortable option to cool and heat their homes​. This program helps residents explore all-electric heat pumps as a heating and cooling option and gives rebates (while funding lasts) to those who make the switch.

Working with Regional Partners to Maximize Solar and Storage

As one of the city’s largest energy users, the University of Colorado’s campus energy system significantly influences the city’s energy needs and opportunities. Working with CU and NREL, the city is helping to identify opportunities for maximizing the installation of additional solar, storage and other renewable technologies in ways that reduce both the carbon emissions and dramatically increase the energy resilience of both the campus and the larger community.

Bolstering Resilience for our Most Vulnerable

As the primary provider of housing services to over 3,000 of the city’s lowest income residents, Boulder Housing Partners (BHP) is a critical service provider to some of the community’s most vulnerable residents. Through both city and federal funding, BHP is now installing a leading edge combination of solar plus storage and back- up generation to ensure it can maintain services even if the larger electrical grid outages.

Via is the city’s key provider of transportation services for mobility-limited residents. In emergencies, Via supports first responders and other critical logistics. Using DOE funding, the city has supported Via to develop a state-of-the-art energy system integrating solar, battery storage and back-up generation that can sustain operations during disruptions and significantly reduce Via’s carbon emissions and operating costs. The new system is also being designed to support Via’s move to electrify the city’s HOP bus line and other parts of its transportation fleet.

Community Climate Action Partnerships

The Just Transition Collaborative: Toward an Equitable Energy Transition for the City of Boulder. This project will build deeper representation of underserved communities and advance equity in climate and energy decisions, communication and planning in the City of Boulder. It will guide Boulder’s Climate Action Plan and implementation to be equitable, inclusive and work to cultivate a socially just green economy. In collaboration with community partners, the project will pilot an inclusive renewable energy and energy efficiency workforce development program. This work will also involve assessing and defining those populations most likely to be impacted by environmental problems and related climate and energy policies